Mechanical toy book



Aug. 30 1927.

H. DR UCK MECHANICAL TOY BOOK 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1927 v ///////////ii/// 1 W1" 2 0 INVENTOR. Her/775w 0/1/02 AT PNLYS.

Aug. 30, 1927. H DRUCK MECHANICAL TOY BOOK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb 8, 1927 INVILYVTOR. #621 750 firz/a BY 2 Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,399 PATENT OFF-ICE.

HERMAN DRUCK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MECHANICAL TOY BOOK.

Application filed February 8, 1927. Serial No. 166,627.

This invention is a mechanical toy book and, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it takes the form of a picture book.

The object of the invention is to provide a highly meritorious construction, the mechanical features of which are such as to hold the interest particularly of the uninitiated, by virtue of the somewhat mysterious mode of operation of the device. .7

In its preferred practical form, the invention embodies a plurality of plates preferably of rectangular form and all of the same size. These plates are normally positioned face to face and they are secured together by means of strips, which are, in practice, preferably relatively rigid, but are hingedly secured at their opposite ends to the opposite edges of contiguous plates, so that these strips constitute, in effect, hinge sections.

It is highly practical to use three of these hinge sections between each two plates in which event, the center hinge section is secured to one edge of one plate and the opposite edge ofthe adjacent plate while the other two hinge sections are pivoted to the other edge of the first plate and the opposite edge of the adjacent plate. This construction provides for pivotal movement of each plate on two distinct axes. That is to say on an axis substantially coincident with the lateral edge of each plate, while positively precluding pivotal movement of any particular plate relative to the others on more than one axis at the same time. As a result,

it is possible to unfold the plates from their compacted positions in two distinct ways.'

When the plates are unfolded in one way, one face of each strip and the corresponding portion of one face of each plate will be disclosed to view, while the folding of the device the other way will result in disclosing the oppositefaces of the respective strips and portions of the opposite sides of the respective plates. It therefore follows that if pictures, letters or symbols are printed on both sides of the strips and plates, the folding of thedevice in the two ways referred to will result in the exposure of one set of pictures or symbols to the exclusion of the other set and vice versa, depending upon the manner in which the device is unfolded. It

is further possible by using, for example.

four plates, to obtain by the two distinct unfolding operations, fourteen different pictures, letters or symbols, each one substantially coextensive with the SIZE 0f the plate it being apparent that the outside face of the outside plates will remain unchanged. In this manner, a variety of pictures, numbers, letters or symbols may be exhibited in a thoroughly efficient and practical manner and in a way that is more or less meritorious and calculated to hold the interest.

I have referred particularly to the use of four plates with three strips between each plate. This is one of the forms in which the invention is made. I wish it understood, however, that-a greater or lesser number of plates may be used and that the hinging of the consecutive plates together may be accomplished by two or more hinge strips and that the invention is not limited to the three strips for the purpose specified.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent'from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction. with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention showing one of the plates drawn away from the other plates and in a more or less abnormal position in order to show the manner in which the consecutivev plates are respectively secured together by the hinge strips.

Figure 2 is a top View of the construction of Figure -1, showing all of the plates drawn apart and in abnormal positions to more clearly show the connections between said plates.

Figure 3 shows the device unfolded and in one position which it is adapted to occupy.

Figure 4 shows the deviceunfolded and in another position which the parts may occupy; and,

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the different permutations of which the device is susceptible. In these views, Figure 6 corresponds to the showing of Figure 4, and Figure 8 corresponds to the showing of Figure 3, Figures 5 and 7 illustrating the opposite sides of Figures 3 and 4, respectively.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate four plates. These plates may be made of any material, but are referably of cardboard of rectangular s ape. Their size is optional, but it is of course desirable two additional plates.

to make them of a size to permit them to be conveniently handled. They are preferably relatively rigid, although they may be slightly flexible without departing fromthe invention. For the purpose of clear description, the lateral edges of the respective plates are designated 1 1", 2 2", 3', 3 and 4 and 4", respectively. Between each two plates are-positioned a plurality of hinge strips, three being shown for the purpose of illustration. Thus. between the plates 1 and 2 are positioned the strips 5, 6 and 7, and similar strips are positioned between each These strips, which I have termed the hinge strips extend the entire width of the respective plates and are hinged to the opposite edges of said plates. Thus, asshown in Figures 1 and 2, one end of each of the outside strips 5 and 7 is pivoted to the edge 1 of the plate 1, while the other. ends of'said strips are pivoted-"to the oppositev edge 2 of the plate 2. In contra distinction, one end of the strip 6 is pivoted to the edge 1 of the plate 1, while the other end of said strip is pivoted to the edge 2 of the plate 2, so that these strips collectively produce a crisscross appearance, as clearly exhibited in Figure 2.

This manner of pivoting the plates together allows of pivotal movement between the respective plates on two distinct axes for each plate; Thus, if the plates are compacted and in substantially face abutting relation, it will be apparent that the plate 1 may be pivoted on an axis of the hinge connection between the strips 5 and 6 and said plate. This axis would be positioned at the edge 1*. Moreover, instead of swinging the plate 1 in the manner stated, the plate 1 is also capable of being swung on the axis of the hinge between the strip 6 and the plate 1, which axes will coincide with the edge 1 of'said plate.

It follows that inasmuch as the several plates are hinged toone another 1n the man ner described, that they are capable of two distinct ,folding operations, which are shown in Figures 3 and/l, I Iere the plates are shown as unfolded into substantial aline ment. In Figure one mannerof n. To bring is figure,

lifted by grasping it with, the thumb forefinger contiguous to the edge. 4 7 e weight of the several plates 'willfcause t em to unfold when the device-is lifted and this unfolding will be upon the axes of the edges 3 2 and 1.

If the device is now com acted again, and instead of being lifted at the edged", it is lifted at the edge P, the plates will fall into alinement as shown in Figure 4, said plates pivoting on the axes of the edges 4 3 and 2. i

d then the device, is

Now, if it be assumed that when the parts are in the position of Figure 3, a letter,

of the device, and, this printing operation again carried out after the change, as shown in Figure 4, has been made, it will be apparent that fourteen different pictures, letters or symbols will be susceptible of exhibition. In practice, the printing may be done on separate sheets of paper and thereafter properly trimmed and pasted in position or the application of the pictures, numbers, letters or symbols to the parts may be accomplished in any suitable way. I do not limit the invention to any particular manner of production .in this respect, but I have referred to the printing upon the parts' as illustrative and as clearly showing what the result will be.

I may, in practice, use pictures, numbers,-

letters or symbols of any character, but, for the purpose of illustration, I have consecutively lettered the parts A to N. Figures 5 to 8 show the different permutations which are exhibited by manipulation of the device in the two ways described. Thus, Figure 8 shows the letters as they appear in Figure 3, while Figure 7 shows the letters which appear on the reverse side of the parts, as shown in Figures 3 and 8. Figure 6 shows theletters as they appear in Figure 4, while Figure 5 shows the letters which appear on the reverse side of the parts as illustrated in Figure 4.. It will of course be apparent that the letters on the exterior of the cover plates 1 and 2 do not change, and it is for this reasonthat' the A and D appear in both Figures 5 and 7.

It may be here noted that the letters are carried conjointly by the hinge strips and by the plates. That is to say, portions of the letters are formed on the strips and the cooperating portions of the letters directly on the plates. These cooperating portions of the several letters are so arranged that when the folding operations are carried out same arrangementwould of course work out witlr plctures or symbols. y The device while more or less. mysterious in its operation, particularly to those who are net skilled in mechanics, is relatively simplfin construction. and may be economically manufactured. It. may be operated with interest by both children and adults.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form, but, for the reasons given, I do not restrict the invention to the number of plates employed or to the number of hinge strips entering into the construction. The

device is primarily intended for use as a toy, but the mechanical structure shown, constructed in more durable form and in metals with metallic hinge connections, may be employed in advertising signs and the like. The present invention therefore is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

I wish to call particular attention to the relatively greatmumber of pictures which I am able to obtain with a relatively small number of plates. In the showing of the drawings where four plates are used fourteen difierent pictures result and each of these ictures are substantially of the full size 0 the respective plates. By increasing the number of plates, the number of pictures which may be obtained will be correspondingly increased. That is to say, when employing five plates, I obtain eighteen pictures, six plates will produce twenty-two pictures, seven plates, twenty-six pictures, etc. In other words, each additional plate added, which, in itself, has but two sides,

will result in the addition of four pictures. Nothing of this sort has ever heretofore been produced.

The term pictorial representation as employed in the appended claims is to be construed as sufiiciently comprehensive 'to include a letter or symbol.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

.1. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates positioned face to face and between each two of which are interposed at least two hinge strips, one end of one hinge strip being pivotally secured to one edge of one adjacent plate and the other end of said hinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the contiguous plate, and one end of the other hinge strip being secured to the other edge of the first mentioned plate, and the other end of the latter hinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the second mentioned plate, and corelative picture elements delineated on corelative surfaces of the strips and plates with each complete picture conjointly carried by a plate and at least one of its associated strips, whereby the picture elements on the plates and strips are mutually cooperative to form three difi'erent complete pictures for each of the end plates and four different complete pictures for each of the intermediate plates.

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates positioned face to face and between each two of which are inter-- posed at least two hinge strips, one end of one hinge strip being pivotally secured to one edge of one adjacent plate, and the other end of said hinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the contiguous plate, and one end of the other hinge strip being secured to the other edge of the first mentioned plate, and the other end of the lat terhinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the second mentioned plate, the aggregate width of the several hinge strips between any two adjacent plates being substantially equal to the length of the device, and suitable data delineated upon the plates and hinge strips. i

3. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates positioned face to face and between each two of which are interposed at least two hinge strips, one end of one hinge strip being pivotally secured to one edge of one adjacent plate, and the other end of said hinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the contiguous plate, and one end of the other hinge strip being secured to the other edge of the first mentioned plate, and the other end of the latter hinge strip being secured to the opposite edge of the second mentioned-plate, a portion of a pictorial representation delineated on each side of each hinge strip, andthe remainders of such pictorial representations delineated on the cooperating plates, and corelative portions of said pictorial representations on the plates and strips being mutually cooperable to form complete pictorial representations, whereby the complete pictorial representations are conjointly carried by the hinge strips and plates collectively with three complete pictorial representations for each of the end plates and four complete pictorial representations for each intermediate plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

i HER-MAN DRUCK. 

